‹ Koshirae

The piece

Higo iron tsuba with the theme of Fudō at the waterfall: a silver bonji amid gold flames above waves, with a Tokubetsu Hozon paper attributing it to Kōrin.

Unsigned tsuba, attributed by the NBTHK paper to Kōrin (伝光隣, den Kōrin), an independent Higo craftsman whom the original seller places in the late phase of the school. The paper titles it 滝不動図鐔 (taki Fudō zu tsuba), 'tsuba with the theme of Fudō at the waterfall'. Iron plate of nade-mokkō shape, with a tsuchime surface and a rounded rim (maru-mimi). The photographs show fine vertical lines evoking falling water or rain; on the right of the obverse, a solid silver bonji inlaid against gold flames, which the seller identifies as a symbol of Fudō Myōō; below, waves carved in relief; and a band of rocks sprinkled with gold running along the left and upper edges and continuing on the reverse. The paper describes the technique as sukidashi-bori, zōgan and iroe; the seller adds gold and silver nunome, the latter now blackened on the wave crests. The photographs show the iron with a dark, even surface, with no visible red rust or noticeable knocks, and the gold almost entirely preserved. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper no. 2009728, dated 14 July 2023. It comes with a custom-made box without inscription. Dimensions according to the seller: 79.6 × 75.3 mm; rim thickness 3.8 mm.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper (2023) attributing it to Kōrin of Higo
  • Solid silver bonji against gold flames, the Buddhist theme of Fudō Myōō
  • Composition of waterfall, waves and gilded rocks continuing on the reverse
  • Tsuchime iron in nade-mokkō shape with a maru-mimi rim

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the authorship is an attribution by the paper (den), not a signature.
  • According to the original seller, the silver nunome of the waves has blackened.
  • The paper does not state the period; it rests on the seller's information and the style.

Score

55.5 / 100

  1. Maker 15 of 25 Unsigned, attributed by the paper to a master
  2. Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
  5. Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
  6. Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
  7. Price 7.5 of 10 Rank 84 of 330 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest

The score shares out 100 points: Maker 25 · Workmanship 20 · Condition 18 · Period 12 · Paper 10 · Extras 5 · Price 10. It is computed from the record, not from an opinion. Maker, workmanship, condition and period are judged from the photographs and the paper; price is compared only with fittings of the same type.

Details

Type
Tsuba
Maker
Kōrin
Period
Late Edo (1781–1868)
Material
Iron, Silver, Gold
Paper
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
Signature
Attributed (den)
School
Higo
Technique
Zōgan (inlay), Nunome (damascening), Iroe (coloured inlay), Kebori (line engraving), Other technique
Dating
Late Edo period (late 18th – 19th century)
Paper number
2009728
Paper date
14 July 2023
Attribution on the paper
伝光隣 (den Kōrin)

€2,430Shipping and taxes included

Write